The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-07-27
Gke glttelkigetlrar.
wHEELINa, W. VA. JuLYa1. 1887.
"a sl,nm md n uunlbug."

"a Sham and n uunibuG."a ,'ag5r
Mr.. Eugene Hipgine, appointment Clerk
In the Treasury Department, declares re-
form In tho Civil Service and the non.in.
ssryention Of ofIlce.holders in politics to
be "a sham and humbug from beginning
. to end" Mr.. Higglns speaks from the
iullness oil his experience as a trusted OIL
iicer OF the Administration and the chlei
heuchman OF the Presidents nearest po-
litical friend. z. sG.aF
When Higgina thus delivered himself
he was fresh from new victory at the
Democratic primaries in Baltimore. What
sort OF victory 1t was, and how accom-
plished, Is best told by the New York
Times, which helped to elect Mr., Clevc-
land and 10 bis always ready apologist:
The city Of Baltimore aeema 10 be the
stronghold, II not the last refuge, Of epoils
politics in iss woyat and most disrepntable
form; and for this, We ere sorry to say,
the National Administration 10 In no
small measure responsible. In that city
Ia the very plague spot on its otherwise
fair record. Tho Democratic primaries
there on Wednesday last afforded strik-
ing illustration Of the natural result Of the
concessions that have been made to that
arch.spoilsman and unscrupulous cor.
rnptionias. Senator German. There Is a
reform element in the Baltimore Dem.
ocracy which has been striving TO cleanse
political methods in that city, and it only
needed countenauce and support to cue.
coed in It's efforts. Tho reform Democrats
hGve pledged themselves to au honest reg.
iatrstion, fair elections and decent party
methods, things which have been long un.
known in the city Of Baltimore. The
ultimate object 10 honest and efficient gov
eminent for the city and for the Stste OF
Maryland. at the psimariea they were
utterly overwhelmed by the most disrepu.
table methods. The local boss and his
lieutenants took complete possession and
carried things with high hand through
their control Of the officers and employee
Of, the Custom House, the Postoflice and
the local government. Gangs OF men in
the public employ and paid for public ser
vice with the money OF the people, Rpent
the day in carrying ont tho commands Of
the boss, and rallying to their aid not only
the lawlets and d;sreputable elements OF
the city's population, but Imported rouShs
aud thugs from neighboriug cities. Cor
ruption, coercion and intimidation were
used TO carry the primaries for the ring Of
greedy spoilsmen, and the decent Demo-
Gratis were overwhelmed.
And who Is the boss who was able to
accomplish this result, and what was the
main source Of his power2 His name is
Rasin, and he was appointed naval officer
at Baltimore by President Cleveland, at
tho instance Of Senator German, and
against the protests Of reformers, who
showed that his character and methods in
politics were utterly disreputable. He
had practically at his command all the
forces OF the Custom-house and poetoilice,
as well "a those OF the municipal govern
ment. His most active and efficient lieu
tenants were appointment Clerk Eugene
A. Higgins, of the Treasury Department,
and Indian Inspector Morris A. Thomas.
These men were afao appointed at the in
stance Of German, and in spite OF the pro-
tests Of all advocates Of reform and true
friends OF the Administration. Their
character WAS exposed, aud their
contenp. for civil -eerEics reform
and decent politics was well known.
Vita them worked other Baltimore poll
ticians who hold conspicuous places in the
Federal service, including Special Agent
Malone, Of the TreEEury Department;
Quinn, clerk OF the Steamboat inspectors,
and Gresham Haugh, one OF the chiefs OF
division in the Interior Department at
Washington. These man in tbs Federal
service st Washington and in Baltimore
and devoted Themselves TO carrying the
primaries against the reform Democracy.
There could be no more fragrant violation
OF one Of the most essential principles Of
reform in tho public service and in politi-
cal methods, to which President Cleve-
land is pledged without reserve. He has
PROGRESSED TO dscountensncs activity on
tho part Of Federal otliceholders in party
management. s.
Tho Baltimore Civil Service Retormer
4 comes in with this significant comment:
1t is quite idle to concssl the isct-in-
deed, it may now most properly be made
food Tor serious thouyht-;that, If we con-
cider only local interests, the present Ad.
miniatration has proved more hurtful to
Maryland than any administration, Re-
? publican or Democratic, has proved in the
Z past or is likely to prove in tho future. "A
II the curtain falls upon the concuSion
I. Of President Cleveland's administration
without aingle indication-and there has
not yet been one-that ita purpose 10. re-
Train from the further rewarding of our
political corruptionista5 and to break tho
bonds which now bind 1t In this State,
however much against the will Of presi-
dent Cleveland himeelf, to the srossest
forms of fraud and crime, it may be the
d part OF patriotism and the impulse Of self
E preservation to oppose his continuance in
office. = J 3--5,3I 81, z. VI -, & y Z 6 E
y Perhaps Mr.. Higgins is right in what no
! says. But 1t is not mere question Of re-
form in the Civil Service. 1t is rather 8
question Of ordinary decency in politics.
Such things as the Presidents own friends
describe never have been approved by the
/! country. II. -
Mr. Cleveland Gu! off the head Of the
4 United States District Attorney. Tor West
ern Pennsylvania because that officer
made Republican speeches, That exer-
cise OF right Of citizenship was regarded
as "psrnicious activity" Tho conduct OF
\ Higgina, Rssin, Thomas and the rest OF
4 them seems to be looked upon as dlsting.
4 uished public service. The work Of
thone artists at the polls resulted in an
4 Administration victory, and II that be not